Selective system.



3. G. SNOW.

SELECTIVE SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 12 .1913.

#19 Mar/6952mm Patented Sept. 15, 19M:

wi/bmaooeo SIDNEY CHARLES SNOW, F BLAKESBURG, IOWA.

SELECTIVE SYSTEM.

1,11o,sa4.

Specification. of'Letters Patent.

Patented dept. 115, 1614i.

Application filed December 12, 1913. Serial No. 806,226.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SIDNEY CHARLES SNOW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Blakesburg, in the county of'Wapello and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Selective Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accom panying drawing; W

My invention relates to selective systems whereby a circuit may be selectively operated, and particularly to selective central and party line calling in telephony.

The object is to enable a particular point to be signaled from any one of a number of instruments on the same line, and, also to enable said instruments to signal each other without signaling said particular point. The system may be employed for selecting talking circuits as well.

Another object is to permit ordinary telephone instruments having the usual alternating current generators and ringers to be used, without any change in the apparatus or circuits.

Further objects are to eliminate all grounded circuits, to enable a simple mechanism to be employed, and to eliminate the necessity for operating devices in the talking or signaling circuits that would decrease the operative efiiciency of same.

There are other desirable objects attained, as will be apparent from the following descriptiom While my invention may be used in connection with a signaling system of any character, used for any purpose, I describe same in connection with a telephone systemto which it is particularly adapted.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the system and'apparatus constituting my in vention. Fig. 2, a detail view of the selector plate 15, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a modification of the system shown in Fig. 1 embodying the same principle.

Like figures of reference denote the same parts wherever they are shown.

1 and 2 denote the ordinary drop and jack. The incoming line wires 3 connect to the long springs of the jack as usual. The short or cut-01f springs of the jack connect to the winding 401 a relay, having an armature 5 so pivoted at 6 as to permit an upward move ment of the levers 7 and 8. These levers and the armature 5 are counterbalanced by the adjustable weight 9, so as to be readily re-' sponsive to the action of the winding 4.

Lever 8 is pivoted at 10 so as to be laterally movable, and the end ll'is positioned so as to be freely movable in slots 12, 13, 14 of a plate 15 which 1 term the selector plate. On this, plate is mounted a contact 16 adapted to close a local circuit including a suitable source of energy such as the battery 17 and drop 1. The contact 16 may be arranged and connected in any suitable manner, provided it performs its function of controlling the local circuit as hereinafter described. To the end of lever 7 is pivoted a rod 18 carrying a collapsible wing member 19 positioned in the receptacle 20. This forms a dash pot to retard the downward movement of levers 7 and 8 and their associated parts, as the wings on 19 close during the upward movement of rod 18 ofi'ering no resistance, and open during the downward movement, because of the resistance they encounter, the receptacle 20 being filled with a suitable fluid such as oil.

In operation, impulses of current coming in over line 3 pass into winding 4: which energizes its core, attracting armature 5, and moving levers 7 and 8 upwardly. The end 11 of 8 rises to the top of slot 12 and owing to the shape of the upper edges of slots 12, 18, 14, when the first impulse ceases, falls on the incline 21 and down slot 13. This down- Ward motion is meanwhile retarded by the dash pot arran ement 18, 19, 20, and if the ring is repeated phone is calling another on the same line) before 11 can operate contact 16, the second impulse energizes winding 5 and 11 rises in 13, and upon the cessation of the second impulse, falls upon incline 22, down slot 14, and along the downwardly sloping bottom slot to the at-rest position shown in Fig. 2. Thus, several impulses of current will so 0 erate the lever 11 in the slots 12, 13, 14:, t at contact 16 will not be closed, and drop 1 will not be operated. If, however, the central ofiice is called, only one continuous 1mpulse (ring) is given, and when same ceases, 11 continues down slot 13, past contact 16, which is operated, closing the circuit through battery 17 and operating drop 1.

Fig. 3 shows an alternate arrangement wherein 23 is a relay of any suitable type, having contacts 24, 25 in series with the source of current 26 and relay winding 4.

(as is the case if the tele-' Relay 23 is connected to'line 3 through the contacts in jack 2, and is operated by the incoming signaling current. This arrangement enables the relay Winding 4 to be operated by a local source of current 26, and the operation of the selective device rendered more certain. as in some cases the incoming current on line 3 may be too Weak to operate armature 5 and its associated parts, whereas armature 26 and its associated contacts can be made lighter and more responsive.

In some cases the dash-pot arrangement consisting of parts 18, 19 and 20 may be objectionable, so any suitable alternate construction may be employed wherein the level- 7 and its associated parts are made sluggish in action. Such arrangements ,are well known in the art and such modifications I deem to be in the scope of my invention.

It is also possible to place in the slots 13 and 14 (or additional "slots if necessary) contacts such as 16, thereby enabling additional signals such as drop 1 to be selected by the desired number of impulses. All

such modifications Ideem to be Within the scope ofv my invention.

I claim- .11 A selector device comprising an electromagnet, an armature, levers connected to said armature capable of vertical and lateral movement, and circuit controlling mecha nism operated by said levers.

2. Av selector comprising an electromagnet, an armature, a lever connected to said armature and operated thereby, means for causing the end of said lever to travel in a predetermined path, and a circuit controlling device in said path adapted to be operatedby said lever.

3.'A selective system comprising an electromagnet, circuit contro'lli'n means comprising a lever actuated by said magnet and aving a freelymovable end, a guide for said end, and a circuit togetherywith its associated equipment controlled. bysaid circuit controlling device, substantially asde-- scribed.

4. A selective system comprising an elec tromagnet,' circuit controlling means actuated thereby, said means comprising a slotted plate member carrying contact mechanism, and a'movable member insaid slotted plate operated by said electromagnet, substantially as described.

5. In a selective system, an electromagnet, an' armature therefor, a lever connected to said armature and movable therewith, a second leverl connected to said first lever and movableindependently thereof, means connected to said levers to regulate the rapidity of change of motion thereof and circuit con:

trolling means operated by said second lever.

6. In a selective system, a line circuit, an electromagnet connected thereto, an armature for said magnet, a plurality of levers actuated by said armature, means comprising a slotted plate for controlling the movement of one of said levers, contact mechanism on said plate operated by said lever,

and acircuit and devices therein controlled by said contact mechanism, substantially as described.

7 In a selective system, an electromagnet, an armaturetherefor,.a lever rigidly connected to said armature and pivotally supported therewith, a second lever pivotally supported on said first mentioned lever, means controlled by said second lever for operating a circuit, and means for controlling the movement ofsaid first lever and armature.

8. In a selective system, an electromagnet, contact mechanism operated thereby, a second electromagnet, and a source of energy serially included in circuit with said contact mechanism, an armature on said second magnet, a plurality-of independently movable levers having a common suspension point with said armature, and contact mechanism controlled by said levers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the resence of two witnesses.

SIDN *Y CHARLES SNOW.

Witnesses:

WM. Tmsnny, EMMETT J ONES. 

